Cap-cover block



W. F. MESSITER.

CAP CO VER BLOCK. APPLICATION FILED JULY 12' l9l8.

"1,3 1 3,7 1 7. Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

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WILLIAM F. MESSITER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

GAP-COVER. BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au. 19, 1919.

Application filed July 12. 1918. Serial No. 244,515.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1', WVILLIAM F. MESSITER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cap-Cover Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to blocks for cap covers and the like, and relates particularly to adjustable blocks over which the covers of caps may be stretched as they are dried after belng washed to shape the same and prevent them from shrinking.

During certain seasons of the year officers of the various uniformed forces are required to wear white caps. As these become easily soiled the cap is in the form of a frame having a removable cover, usually made of canvas, so that it may be removed to be washed or otherwise cleaned. When the covers are washed it is necessary to have them pressed and blocked to shape. Heretofore it has been the practice after the covers have been washed to place the same upon a wooden block, which is not only heavy but clumsy, or to iron them by hand.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a cap cover block to overcome the above disadvantages and which is ad ustable to different sizes of caps, and upon which the cap cover may be readily placed in its wet condition to dry and shape it to its-desired form.

In carrying out the invention a band, preferably of metal and in cross section conforming in shape to the side of the cap cover, is bent to circular or annular form with the ends in overlapped and sliding relation to form an annular member arranged to be adjustable to contract and expand the same and to lock it in its adjusted position.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of my improved cap cover block with a cap cover applied thereto to dry and shape the same.

Fig. 2 is a View looking at the bottom of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are bottom views showing {)nodlified means to expand and contract the Similar characters of reference designate like parts throughout the different views of the drawing.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing comprises a band which is shaped in cross section, as shown at 6 and 7, to conform in shape to the side 8 of the body of the cap cover 9 and is reinforced or stiffened by forming beads 10 and 11 at opposite ends. The band is bent to circular form with the ends 12 and 13 in overlap ed and sliding relation, (see Fig. 2), forming an annular eXpansible and contractile memher or ring. To retain the ends 19. and 13 of the band in sliding and interlocked relation portions of the beads 10 and 11 adjacent one end of the band, shown as the end 13, are cut away as shown at 11 and 15, Figs. 1 and 2, and the beads 10 and 11 adjacent the opposite end of the band are spread apart or partially cut away, as shown at 16 and 17, Fig. 1, to permit of the portions 14 and 15 of the band to slidably engage between the bead portions 16 and 17 at the opposite end of the band, and thus serve as a: guide as the band is contracted and expanded.

To expand and contract the annular member formed by the hand there is secured adjacent to one end of the band a rack 18 preferably conforming to the curvature of the bent band and with which rack a pinion 19 meshes, this pinion being rotatably supported by lugs 20 secured adjacent the opposite end of the band; these lugs may be struck up from the metal of the band itself. A portion at one end of the band is recessed to permit of the passage of the lugs or the rack as the annular member is contracted and expanded. In the present instance the end 13 of the band is recessed, as shown at 21, at opposite sides of the rack, and in which recessed portions the pinion carrying lugs engage during the adjustment of the band.

To rotate the pinion to adjust the annular annular member will be expanded and by ends'25 of the levers.

rotating the pinion in the opposite direction the band will be contracted. To lock the annular member in adjusted position there is provided a detent to engage the teeth. of .the pinion comprising a pin 23 removably engaging in perforations in the extended ends of the lugs 20. i

To apply a cap cover after it has been washed to the block the block is contracted or drawn together and placed in the cap cover when the block is expanded to the desired extent and locked'in such position by the detent pin 23. After the cap cover is dried the block is again contracted and removed from the cap cover. The block being open at both the top and bottom permits'of the free circulation of the air with the resultthat the cap cover dries quickly.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a modification of the means to contract and expand'the block, comprising a pair of levers 30 pivotally connected as at 24 and pivotallyconnected at 'onee'nd to adjacent opposite ends of the band. The ends of the levers opposite to their connection with the band may be in the form of hand grips 25. The block is normally urged to expanded position by a spring 26 engaging between the hand grip It will be obvious that in order to contract the block the hand grip ends of the levers are pressed together or toward each other, and as soon as'they are released they are spread apart by the spring 26 and thereby the block expanded.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a further modification of the means 'to expand and contract the block, comprising a m'ember27 of resilient or springy material connected at its ends to adjacent opposite ends of the block forming band and tensioned to normally spring laterally and urge the block to expanded position. To draw the block together to place it in a cap cover the ends of the member 27 are pressed together, and they may beheld in such position by a ring 1 28 embracing said member. To increase the inherent tension of the member 27 it may be provided with one or more coils 29.

. Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A cap cover block comprising a band of circular form with the ends arranged in overlapped relation, and a rack and pinion carried at the ends of the band operable to contract and expand the band for the purpose specified.

2. A cap cover block comprising a circular band with the ends arranged in overlapped relation; a rack carried by the band adjacent one end; a pinion carried adjacent the opposite end of the band to mesh with the rack and cooperate therewith to expand 2nd contract the band for the purpose speci- 1 3. A cap cover block comprising a circular band with the ends arranged in overlapped relation; a curved rack fixed tothe band advjacent'one end; a plnion carried adjacent the opposite end of the band to mesh with the rack and cooperate therewith to contract and expand the band; and means to lock the pinion against movement for the purpose specified.

4:. A cap cover block comprising a circular, band with the'ends arranged in overlapped relation; a curved rack fixed to the band adjacent one end; a pinion carried adjacent the opposite end of the band to mesh with the rack; means to rotate the pinion to contract and expand the band; and means to lock the pinion against movement for the purpose specified.

- 5. A cap cover block comprising a band bent to form an annular member with the ends in overlappedinterlocking sliding relation; a rack carried by the band adjacent one end; a pinion rotatably carried by the band adjacent the opposite end arranged to mesh with the rack; a key connected to the pinion to rotate the same to impart movement to the rack to expand and contract the band; and .a detent to engage the teeth of the pinion to lock the same against movement and the band in adjusted position.

- WILLIAM F. MESSITER.

Copies of'this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O. o 

